Glass feeding and severing mechanism



F. l.y o. wADswoRTH 2,174,905

GLASS FEEDING AND SEVERING MEGHANISM Oct. 3, 1939.

Original Filed March 18, 1953 Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLASS FEEDING AND SEVERING MECHANISM Original application March 18, 1933, Serial No.

661,563. Divided and this application December 18, 1936, Serial No. 116,505

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for severing a stream of molten glass into a succession of individual mold charges or gobs, and is a division of copending application Serial No. 661,563, filed March 18, 1933.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a form of double acting, high speed shear which will separate a flowing stream of molten glass into a series of mold charges of denite predetermined form and weight without the formation of shear marks on the ends of the severed charges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shear mechanism which drops or travels with the stream at the time of severance and thereby accelerates the delivery of each severed charge of molten material to the mold or the forming receptacle in which it is subsequently pressed or shaped to the vdesired form.

A further object of the present invention is to provide auxiliary means for assisting the dropping shear blades in accelerating the delivery of each severed charge of molten glass to the mold or forming receptacle.

These and other objects which will be hereinafter made apparent to those skilled in this particular art are accomplished by means of the present invention, one embodiment of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a general side elevation partially in section of a feeder boot showing the relative position oi' the improved shear mechanism:

Fig. 2 is a plan view partially in section of the shear mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line III-III o! Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the shear mechanism taken on the lines IV-IV of Figs. 2 and 3, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section through the two shear blades shown in Fiss. 2 and 4.

In the drawing is illustrated the improved shear mechanism in connection with a forehearth or ,feeder boot I which forms an extension oi the main glass tank, the front wall of which is indicated at 2 and which is provided near its outer end with a submerged delivery oriiice F oi the usual form. The new of glass through the orice and to fluid pressure conduits I3 and I4 through 10 a cam actuated timer valve I2.

To reduce the heat losses due to radiation through that portion of the forehearth which is in contact with the molten material, a hollow U-shaped box casting I3 is provided which sur- 15 rounds the lower portion of the forehearth and which is preferably made of a high chromium nickel steel alloy having a relatively low heat conductivity and which is not deleteriously affected by temperatures of 2000 F. The exposed 20 side and bottom surfaces of the box 'I3 are preferably covered, to minimize radiation losses, with a, white asbestos paint or enamel or with thin sheets of similar material cemented thereon. and

the interior of the box may be highly heated in any suitable way. It is preferred, however, to keep the box at a high temperature by forcing into it a portion of the excess and highly heated gases which ll the upper part of the forehearth I and which tend to escape therefrom through the opening around the upper part of the bell B. These gases are withdrawn through a ue 'I5 which is formed in the roof blocks of the forehearth and communicates at its forward end with the bell opening and at its rear end with a small dome 'I6 that adjoins the front wall 2 of the main tank chamber.

Heavy pipe 'I1 of high thermal resistivity, for example Fahr-ite, leads from this dome to some simple form of rotary pump 'i8 (the twin drum 40 Root blower shown in Figs. 1 and 2) which is positioned beneath the forehearth and is driven by a suitable variable speed motor M. The delivery nozzles of the pump are connected directly to the rear end of the U-shaped box I3 by 45 short vertical pipes 19, 19 and the rotor members are revolved at such speed as to maintain a relatively low pressure of two or iree pounds (gauge) in said box which is utilized (as hereinafter more fully explained) to accelerate the 5 delivery of the severed charge to a receiving mold or forming receptacle.

The improved high speed shear mechanism for severing the stream issuing through the orifice F into a series of successive mold charges of definite form and weight without scarring or chilling the molten material at the plane oi severance, comprises a pair of double ended. or double acting, shear blades 00-0I, which are adjustably secured to the ends oi the arms 82-B3, that are rotatably mounted, one above the other, on a' vertical stud pin 85. These arms are respectively provided with the spur pinions BIB- 01, which are engaged, on opposite sides, by the toothed racks B8-89, that form the side bars of a reciprocable box shaped member 00. The inner (right hand) end of this member is pivotally connected to the outer extremity of a piston rod 9|, which is attached to a piston 92 in the cylinder 93; and the opposite (left hand) end is slidably engaged with a guide bar 05, that is adjustably mounted in the adjacent portion of a frame 9B, which is pivotally supported, at both ends, on the U- shaped head 99 of the cylinder 03, and which is provided near its center, with bracket supports IDD-|00, for the stud pin 85. This entire assemblage of parts, 00 to |00 inclusive, is supported, as a unit, on the angie bracket |0|, which is bolted to the iioor plate B of the forehearth (see Figs. 2 and 4) and the joint adjustment of this bracket, and of the head 90 with respect thereto-which can be effected by passing the clamp bolts |02 and |03 through slots in the angle bracket I0|makes it possible to bring the path, and the plane of movement, oi the shear blades iiD- 8| into any desired relationship to the ilow orifice F.

The cylinder 93 is provided at one side with a timer valve member |05, which is connected to the pressure conduit Il, by a pipe |06, and t0 the opposite ends oi the cylinder 93 by the passages |01 and |08. The piston, or plunger rod, of this timer valve is actuated by a bell crank lever I0, and a cam HI which is mounted on the cam shaft |I2 and is driven by a worm and worm wheel connection with the shaft I Il of the motor M (see Figs. 1 and 2). When it is desired to operate the shear mechanism-to sever the stream of glass flowing from the delivery orifice F-the timer valve is moved to open communication between the pipe |l|09 and the passage |01, and the admission of compressed fluid to the right hand end of the cylinder 03 forces the piston 92 to the left, and rotates the shear blade elements 00-02-00, and 0|-03-B1, in opposite direction, about the axis of the stud pin 85. The shear blades 90-8I meet and cross each other at the central point of the piston strokewhere the speed of movement is at or near its maximumand continue on until the blade 80 has reached the position initially occupied by the blade 9|, and vice versa-the length of the piston stroke and the limits of its movement being controlled by the joint adjustment o! the shouldered guide rod 95 and the set screw IIS. In order to slow down the last half o! this movement, and bring the parts to rest without appreciable shock or jar, the timer valve cam is so shaped that the port |01 is closed before the piston reaches the end of its stroke, and the port IIB-which is open to the atmosphere during the tlrst half of the movement-may also be partially, or wholly, closed after the shear blades have met and passed each other; and the resultant drop in pressure behind the piston-aided by an accompanying trapping and compression of air in front of the piston-will gradually check and arrest its nal movement to the left.

'I'he parts will remain in the position last described until the continued rotation of the timer valve cam II| again operates the timer valve to establish communication Abetween the pressure supply lines Il-IIJG and the port |00 (the opposite port |01 being now open to the atmosphere),

and thus move the piston 92, and the parts actuated thereby through a reversed cycle of action which is controlled in the same manner as before. In this reversed or return movement the stream of glass will be severed by the opposite edges o! the symmetrically shaped double ended blades 90-0I, which are so mounted and adjusted (as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5) that they will act in the same manner for both directions oi movement.

It is obvious that the above described form of double acting shear mechanism will operate to sever the stream of glass much more quickly than any form of shear in which the blade or blades are successively closed and opened at each severing operation; and that the danger o! marring or marking the glass at the plane of severance. and of heating the cutting edges by continued contact with the molten material, is thus eliminated.

'I'he improved high speed severing device is also provided with means for accelerating the downward movement of the severed charge of glass immediately after it is separated from the oncoming stream, and thus increasing the speed with which this charge is delivered to the receiving receptacle. This desirable result is accomplished by providing one of the shear arms (e. g., the arm 02) with an extension |20, which passes through elongated slots in the members 96-99 and |0 I, and which is adapted to engage and ride over a roller 12| that is mounted on the frame 98 at a point immediately behind the stud pin 05 (Figs. 2 and 4). The engagement of the arm |20 with the roller |2| rocks the trame 96 on its trunnion supports in the cylinder head 90, and thus imparts to the transversely moving shear blades 00-BI a rapid downward movement (at the instant of crossing) which is, in turn, communicated to the severed charge of glass (see Fig. 4). This movement also carries the upper surfaces of the cutting elements out oi engagement with the lower end of the oncoming stream of glass, and thus assists in further reducing the time of contact between the shear blades and the molten material upon which they act. The short interval during which the frame 90 is rocked to the position shown in Fig. 4 is determined by the width of the extension arm |20; and after this arm-has passed over the roller |2| the parts are restored to normal position by the compression spring |22. i

Auxiliary means have also been provided by which the downward movement of the severed charge of glass may be further accelerated, after the shear blades 00--0I have ceased to act. Various devices may be provided for this purpose; but as here shown the desired result is obtained by providing a removable guard tube |25, whose inner diameter is slightly larger than that of the severed charge and whose upper end is enlarged to form an ejection chamber |20 that is connected to the interior of the U-shaped box 13 by the double elbow pipe joints |21-I28, and the valve box |29. The guard tube |20 is supported by side posts 1 which also serve to support the sheet metal floor 8 of the forehearth I. The

box |29 contains a disc valve |30, which is at-y tached to a stem |3|, that is secured, at its lower end to a piston |32; and the space below this piston is connected, by the pipe |33, with a. port |35 on the lower side of the cylinder $3 (see Fig. 3). This port is so positioned, and is of such length, that it will be opened to the space behind the advancing piston (in either the left hand or right hand movement of the latter) at the central point in its stroke; and when so opened the compressed iluid in the cylinder 03 will be admitted to the space below the piston |32 and will lift the disc valve |30 from its seat. The opening of the valve |30 will permit the compressed and highly heated gas in the box 13 to rush out, through the connections |21-|20,-into the ejection head |26, and to be discharged therefrom, through the narrow downwardly inclined annular slots |30, against the upper end portion of the freshly severed charge of glass in the guard tube |25; and this downwardly flowing annular sheet of hot gas performs two functions, i. e., that of further accelerating the falling movement of the mold charge, and that of preventing the surfaces of this charge from coming into contact with, and being chilled by, the surrounding tube |25.

The valve |30 will remain open until the drop in pressure behind the piston 92 will permit the adjusted tension of the spring |40 to overcome the corresponding pressure on the piston |32; and these two eiects may be so controlled by the adjusted action of the timer valve |05, and the adjusted force of the spring |40, that the flow of hot gas from the box 13 is cut oil as soon as the severed charge has passed out of the tube |25.

In Fig. 4 has been shown a slight modification of the ejection accelerator which has just been described. This alternative form of construction dillers from that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, only in having a supplementary pipe connection |42, which leads from the elbow |21 to a suitable source of gaseous or liquid fuel, and which is provided with a control valve |43 that is neximy coupled to the lower end of the piston stem |3|. When the piston |32 is lifted by the admission of compressed air to the pipe |33 (see supra) the valve elements |30 and |43 are concurrently opened, to permit of a stream of fuel to enter the ejection chamber |26 and be mixed with the dow of fluid from the box 13. When this supplementary device is used the inlet pipes 11 of 111e pump l10 are disconnected from the flue connections 15-16, and are opened to the atmosphere, and the pump is then used to keep the box 13 charged with air under a pressure which is slightly less than that maintained in the fuel supply connection |42. The air thus pumped into the box 13 will become highly heated by radiation and conduction from the adjacent walls of the i'orehearth. and will in turn serve as an insulating envelope for those walls; and when the valve |30 is opened to admit this heated air to the chamber |26, the mixture of air and fuel therein will be projected from the annular slot |30, and will be immediately ignited by the hot glass to iorm a downwardly moving sheet of flame which will perform the same function and accomplish the same results that are secured by the gse og the superheated gas discharge from the The cam which operates the timer valve |2 to control the up and down movements ot the bell B --is preferably mounted on the same shaft H2 that carries the shear actuating timer valve cam and it will be understood that these two cams may be manually adjusted to act in any desired phase relationship, and thus effect the severing and delivery oi successive mold charges at any desired point or points in the reciprocating movement of the bell member. It will also be understood that if it is desired to cut or! only one charge in each complete cycle of this reciprocating movement, these two cams will be so shaped as to operate in a two to one ratio-i. e., the cam |I| acts to produce only one half cycle movement oi' the piston 32 (to the right or left) while the other cam is acting to produce a full cycle movement (up and down) of the bell.

When the successively formed and severed masses oi glass are to be delivered in regular order to the molds of a forming (press, or pressand-blow) machine, it is desirable to operate the mold table of the machine in a definite and predetermined synchronism with respect to the feeder mechanism; and this may be accomplished either by connecting the motor shaft IM to the mold table-if the movement of the latter is continuous-or by the provision of a third timervalve system, which is actuated by the cam shaft I2, and which controls the start and stop movements of the said table` The provision oi means for accelerating the downward delivery of the severed charges of glass facilitates the use of a continuously moving mold table, because 1t greatly shortens the time during which the mold receptacle must be retained in its receiving position: and this, in turn, cooperates with the continuous flow action of the feeder in increasing the rate of production obtainable with the entirefeeder-forming-machine organization.

With the preceding disclosure as a guide, those skilled in this art will be able to devise many other specific forms of apparatus for practicing the procedure hereinbefore described, and for utilizing. in whole or in part, the various features of improvement which characterize my present invention, as defined in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A glass severing mechanism comprising a pair of double edged, oscillating shear blades, means for periodically oscillating said blades to swing said blades across each other in cutting relation the blades being so arranged that as they move in one direction the cutting action is eli'ected by one edge of each blade and as they move in the opposite direction by the opposite edge of each blade, and means responsive to the oscillation of one of said blades in each direction for tilting the same as they cross each other in cutting relation,

2. A glass severing mechanism comprising a pair of shear blades mounted for oscillation about a common ax's, means for oscillating said blades about such axis to move them across each other in cutting relation, mean responsive to the movement oi' one blade for tilting the same as they cross each other in cutting relation and yieldable means for returning said blades to their non-tilted position.

3. A glass severing mechanism comprising a pair of double edged shear blades, a rack and gear mechanism for swinging said blades in opposite directions, a piston connected to said rack, a cylinder in which said piston reciprocates, and means for alternately connecting the ends oi' said cylinder to a source of motive uid to move said piston and rack in opposite directions and oscillate said shear blades, said severing mechanism lil being so constructed and arranged that the blades approach and cross each other during each stroke of the piston whereby the severance is accomplished by one set of edges as the blades move in one direction and by the other set of edges as they move in the opposite direction.

4. A glass severing mechanism comprising a pair of double acting shear blades mounted for oscillation about a common axis, a gear secured to each of said blades, a rack bar engaging each of said gears. a piston connected to said rack bars, a cylinder in which said piston reciprocates, means for alternately connecting the ends o-f said cylinder to a source of motive fluid, to oscillate said blades, and means responsive to the oscillation of one of said blades for tilting the common axis of the blades.

5. A glass severing mechanism compriiing a pair of shear blades mounted for oscillation in opposite directions, an arm projecting from one of said blades, a common shaft for said blades, a pivoted frame in which the ends of said shaft are mounted, means for oscillating said blades, and means adapted to coact with said projecting arm during the oscillation of said blades for turning said frame and tilting said blades.

6. A glass severing mechanism comprising a pair of double edged shear blades, a shaft on which said blades are mounted. an arm projecting from one of said blades. a pivoted frame in which the ends of the shaft are journaled, a reciprocating motor for oscillating said blades, and means adapted to coact with said arm during the oscillation of one of said blades for tilting said frame.

'1. A glass severing mechanism comprising a pair of double edged shear blades, a shaft on which said blades are mounted, an arm projecting from one of said blades, a pivoted frame in which the ends of ,said shaft are journaled, a reciprocating motor.. means connecting said motor to said blades whereby the reciprocation thereof swings said blades around said shaft, and means adapted to coact with said projecting arm during the swinging movement of said blades Ior tilting said frame.

8. The combination comprising a forehearth for molten glass having a submerged discharge outlet therein through which the glass ows in -a stream, a hollow member surrounding said forehearth, means for maintaining elastic iluid under pressure within said member, means for severing a charge of molten glass from the stream flowing through said outlet, and means operating in timed relation to said severing means for directing elastic fluid from said member against said charge to accelerate the delivery thereof to a forming receptacle.

9. In combination with a container for molten glass having a submerged discharge outlet therein, a hollow member surrounding said forehearth, means for maintaining an elastic uid under pressure within said member, a guard tube beneath said outlet, and connected to said hollow member. a valve controlling communication between said guard tube andsaid member. means for periodically severing the glass flowing through said outlet, and means responsive to the operation of said severing means for actuating said valve tobleliver fluid from said member to said guard tu 10. In combination with a forehearth for molten glass having a submerged discharge outlet therein, through which the glass therein is discharged in a stream, a sleeve disposed below said discharge outlet and havinginclined ports leading into an ejection chamber, a hollow member surrounding such forehearth and connected to said ejection chamber, means for maintaining elastic iluid under pressure within said hollow member, a valve controlling the connection between said hollow member and said ejection chamber, means for severing a charge oi glass from the stream and impelling it into said sleeve, and means responsive to the operation of said severing means for actuating said valve whereby fluid pressure is directed against said charge to accelerate its passage through said tube.

l1. In combination with a forehearth for molten glass having a submerged discharge outlet therein through which glass iiows in a stream, means for severing a charge from said stream, means for withdrawing and storing the heated gases from said forehearth, and means responsive to the operation of said severing means for directing such stored gases against the severed charge to accelerate itsldelivery to a receiving receptacle.

12. In combination with a forehearth for molten glass having a submerged outlet therein through which glass is discharging in a stream, means for periodically severing such stream to form individual mold charges, means for withdrawing and storing the heated gases from said forehearth, and means responsive to the severing of said stream for directing such stored and highly heated gases under relatively high pressure against the severed charges to accelerate the delivery thereof to a receiving receptacle.

13. In combination with a forehearth for molten glass having a submerged outlet therein through which glass is discharging in a stream, means for periodically severing such stream to i'orm individual mold charges, means for withdrawing the highly heated gases from the forehearth and for maintaining such gases under pressure, and means responsive to the operation of said severing means for directing the highly heated gases against the severed charges to accelerate the delivery thereof to a receiving receptacle.

14. In combination with a forehearth for molten glass having a submerged outlet therein through which glass is discharging in a stream. a hollow member surrounding said forehearth,

means for withdrawing the highly heated gases from said forehearth and forcing the same into said hollow member, means for periodically severing said stream to form individual mold charges, and means responsive to the operation of said severing means for directing the gases from said member against said severed charges to accelerate the delivery thereof to a forming receptacle.

15. In combination with a container for molten glass having a submerged outlet therein through which glass is discharging in a stream, a pairof oscillating shear blades coaxially mounted below said forehearth, a reciprocating motor for oscillating said blades to cause the blades to cross each other in the path of said stream and sever a mold charge therefrom, and means for accelerating the-delivery of the severed charges to a receiving mold including a hollow box-like member surrounding said container, means for withdrawing the heated gases from the container and forcing the same under pressure into said box-like member, and means responsive to the operation of said reciprocating snm'sos 5 cutting relation. and means for tilting said blades while in cutting relation including a xed roller over which the projecting portion of said arm rides as the blades move across each other in cutting relation.

MILDRED M. WADSWORTH,

`Adsmnistmtria: of the Estate o! Frank L. O.

Wdsworth. Deceased.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No 2, 1'7b905.

October 5 1959.

HILDRED PI. WADSWORTH, ADMINISTRATRIX of FRANK L. O. WADSWORTH, deceased.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 14, first column, line V514., claim 6, strike out the words "of one"; and second column, line 5, claim 10, for "such" read said; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th clay of December, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

snm'sos 5 cutting relation. and means for tilting said blades while in cutting relation including a xed roller over which the projecting portion of said arm rides as the blades move across each other in cutting relation.

MILDRED M. WADSWORTH,

`Adsmnistmtria: of the Estate o! Frank L. O.

Wdsworth. Deceased.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No 2, 1'7b905.

October 5 1959.

HILDRED PI. WADSWORTH, ADMINISTRATRIX of FRANK L. O. WADSWORTH, deceased.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 14, first column, line V514., claim 6, strike out the words "of one"; and second column, line 5, claim 10, for "such" read said; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th clay of December, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

